Chief Justice's status lower than that of a peon today: Abbasi

Awam Pakistan President and former Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday made a controversial statement, saying that the Chief Justice of Pakistan's (CJP) status is lower than that of a peon today.

Speaking on a private media outlet, Abbasi, while criticising the recently passed 26th Constitutional Amendment, said, “Chief Justice's status is lower than that of a peon today.”

"You [Shahid Khaqan Abbasi) are making a bold claim; I’m not sure whether I [the program host] will be able to air this,” the political talk show host reacted to the ex-PM's statement.

“Take it on air, I'm ready to say something even bigger than this,” the former Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader said. The host warned Abbasi that he could face contempt from the courts for such remarks. “Go ahead,” Abbasi responded.

Abbasi explained that the Supreme Court is meant for constitutional matters; however, the incumbent government has established a bench where they appoint the judges themselves.

Dubbing the 26th Constitutional Amendment destruction of the judiciary, Abbasi claimed that the amendment would cause so much damage to the country that it would not be calculated.

He claimed that the individual who had introduced the amendment bill in the Senate had not even read the bill, asking why the bill was passed in the wee hours on October 20, 2024.

Following the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the most senior judge to be appointed as the CJP was ruled out. The top judge was “appointed on the recommendation of the Special Parliamentary Committee from amongst the three most senior,” SC judges, as per the amendment.

The Special Parliamentary Committee, consisting of 12 members, including eight from the National Assembly and four members from the Senate, is responsible for sending the name of the nominee to the prime minister, who then forwards the same to the president for appointment, said the amendment.

Following the amendment, the Shehbaz Sharif-led government appointed the third most senior judge, Yahya Afridi, as the country’s top judge in October 2024.

The TV host, citing government claims that interest rates have dropped and textile exports have significantly surged, prompted Abbasi to recount that 16 deportees were sitting in a flight when he was coming from Turkiye to Sharjah. “All of the deportees were Pakistanis. They were doctors, engineers and IT experts,” he said, alluding to the unemployment crisis in the country.

“The incumbent government is unelected, and people have no trust in it,” he firmly stated.